chain letter

A letter, email, or other message sent to a number of people asking each recipient to send copies with the same request to a specified number of others. The circulation of a chain letter increases in geometrical progression as long as the instructions are followed by all recipients.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

chain letter

(Communications & Information) a letter, often with a request for and promise of money, that is sent to many people who add to or recopy it and send it on to others: illegal in many countries

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

chain′ let`ter

a letter sent to a number of people each of whom is asked to make and mail copies to others who are to do likewise.

[1905–1910]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

chain letter - a letter that is sent successively to several people

letter, missive - a written message addressed to a person or organization; "mailed an indignant letter to the editor"

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References in periodicals archive

German WhatsApp users are disseminating far-right propaganda through the use of stickers and chain letters but the platform appears to be doing little to stop it, despite local laws banning the use of Nazi imagery, BuzzFeed News' Karsten Schmehl reports, citing hundreds of uses of anti-Semitic or otherwise pro-Nazi stickers.

German WhatsApp users spread Nazi propaganda on platform, BuzzFeed says

'Threat' in chain letters A chain letter containing a veiled threat of death was circulating in Cardiff.

1983 MONDAY FEBRUARY 5; A musical landmark, a family's struggle to live in a house with no water supply, UFOs and booze on school buses were all making the headlines 35 years ago

Who presented the game show Chain Letters? A David Bowie B David Lee Ray C David Robinson D David Spikey

General Knowledge Quiz

Inside were several chain letters from tourists explaining why their trips have been so special.

the loch of love; National park rangers find heartfelt notes of appreciation from tourists

The Great Depression produces dance marathons and chain letters. The prosperous fifties spawn hoola-hoops and "cruising." The counterculture 1960s welcome the Beatles and smiley faces.

Bix, Cynthia Overbeck. Fad Mania! A History of American Crazes

Dubai To protect its 900 million plus users from online attacks, Facebook has formed an alliance with five security vendors to protect its members' data as the social networking site has become a fertile breeding ground for hoaxes, spam and chain letters.

Facebook in security alliance to combat spam

Keshia Estwick, 19, of Emerson Street, Toxteth, and a 16-year-old boy were accused of assisting violent disorder during last summer's street violence by sending on "chain letters" to their contacts.

BLACKBERRY RIOT TEENS NOT GUILTY

WE'VE had chain letters, chain texts, spam e-mails - now make way for the chain cake.

MUMSAYS

It looks like one of those chain letters that are sent."

Net thugs target kids in 'Bloody Mary' email; PRANK

The former presenter of TV shows like Chain Letters and star of the long forgotten Copy Cats fails to deliver anything remotely cinematic.

Misses a trick; MAGICIANS (15) VERDICT: No stars

Years back, people (my school mates included) panicked about the dire consequences of ignoring chain letters.

MY SHOUT